Supermen Of Malegaon, A Documentary worth watching

Hello everyone, recently one of the authors from the blog, madaboutmoviez.com offered me an opportunity to attend a premier of a documentary. I was not sure if I should grab this opportunity thinking that it is just a documentary, but then the title of the documentary fascinated me to go and watch it (another reason why I thought several times before going for this documentary was because what followed next was this review). But trust me guys (without exaggerating it) I do not regret even a little ,the documentary touched my heart and soul and I could so connect with it. What is so great about this 64 minutes documentary is what I am going to tell in this post (I don’t call this a review because I don’t consider myself qualified enough to write a review.)

Supermen of Malegaon is an extraordinary documentary, (and when I use the word EXTRAORDINARY, I quite literally mean it) releasing this Friday, that is, 29^th of June, 2012, after almost four years after it was made. Before we get into what is shown in the movie let me just tell you a little about what exactly is this place called Malegaon. Around three hundred kilometers outside of Mumbai in Maharashtra is the small industrial town of Malegaon. For a long time Malegaon is driven by its power loom industry and is also known for its unique film industry, Mollywood, which makes small-budget spoofs of Bollywood hits A few years ago one man , Sheikh Nasir, decided to make a spoof of a very famous Hollywood movie, and he titled the movie as Malegaon ka Superman.

Faiza Ahmad heard about the 'cinema fanatics' from the town of Malegaon, and decided to film a documentary on them.The documentary concentrates on the situations and the complications that haunt Nasir continuously when he is the process of making the film, Malegaon ka Superman While assisting Bollywood filmmakers in Mumbai, documentary filmmaker.

We all in love with cinema, but I personally  have never come across such crazy and passionate people who make movies facing many hardships everyday without expecting any material returns except the appreciation or satisfaction for themselves.. It’s funny sometimes but it really gets heartbreaking as well. Quite personally I have always hated spoofs but after watching this particular documentary I couldn’t help appreciating the makers of the film. There was a time when I was tempted to point fingers and laugh but the film did not allow me to. I would rather be proud of these people than have pity on them, they are passionate, ambitious, talented ARTISTS. I want to give a special credit to the movie’s villain Akram, for his multi talented nature. He not only acts in the movie, but he is the man behind the editing and the dubbing. The music by Sneha Khanwalkar and Hitesh Sonik is great. Both have even given music for the recently released movie gangs of wasseypur. Shafique Shaikh, the lead of the movie ‘Malegaon ka superman’ died of throat cancer last September but he will always be remembered for his role. The reason why I say this is only because when you watch this documentary what will hold you in its captive is the depiction of each and every small emotion of the actors and the makers of the movie. How Shafique fights with all the shortcomings because he is passionate about acting and proud of himself is commendable. And the way the makers and the other cast take care of him remind brings tears into my eyes. Shafique desired to do any Amitabh Bacchanji role once in his life and that was what he considered the greatest thing in his life is what surprises me in this materialistic world.

These bollywood spoofs that Nasir makes are the only source of entertainment for the residents of Malegaon. 12 hour power cuts are something these residents face on a daily basis. It is amazing to know that these funny movies are made using a simple camcorder and without not much technical equipments or a proper set but still they are so entertaining. The dubbing, editing, background score, one really funny song are all worth appreciating. The honesty the makers show towards their work is very difficult to believe.

The documentary is going to leave a smile on your face, especially amateur film makers and cinema students who can relate with these cinema fanatics of Malegaon. The film is warm and engaging and will compel you to follow with the journey of these passionate film makers. The film is tribute to all of those out there who have real passion to put across their thoughts with the help of cinema, ignoring all the hardships they face on their way.

PAVITRA RISHTA Vs DEXTER

You seriously believe there would be any comparison between these two?

Being at home for almost one whole month is such bliss but it turns into a nightmare when your mom is an avid lover of daily soap operas. Yes, the second half of my vacations went watching ‘Balika vadhu’, ‘Saat nibhana sathiyaa’, ‘punar vivah’ and blah blah shit like that. And quite ironically the first half of my vacations I was watching ‘Dexter’, ‘House’, ‘Modern family’ and my all time favorite ‘how I met your mother’. And now when my vacations are coming to an end all that occupies my mind is a continuous comparison between our very own daily soaps and those thrilling, funny, entertaining American shows.

Before getting into the actual comparison I would like to share some questions that are in my mind from a really long time. Why is it that these Indian soap operas so popular in India? What is it that keeps Indian audience so hooked to these soap operas? Why do women believe in whatever is happening on television? How can someone sleep in heavy saris? How can someone cry so much? And most important why do they never die? Why isn’t there any sense in these soap operas? Are we so jobless, so useless that we waste our time watching such shit? Apparently these soap operas are most criticized yet most watched and most advertised in Indian society. Like I always say everything in India is ironic (this isn’t funny but seriously serious).

Recently I showed my mom an episode from Dexter (till date I regret acting smart and making my mom watch something thrilling) and the reaction was quite obvious “you watch this shit regularly for hours and hours, isse acha toh mera pavitra rishta hai”. Seriously? My mom compared Dexter and Pavitra rishta. She should be sued by the television association of the world (if there exists any).

Would the drugs, sex, suspense fueled TV shows be worth watching without sex, drugs and suspense? Today Indian TV is trying to adapt American shows in a bid to attract young viewers but at the same time they cannot offend the older audiences and that’s where they lose the edge. Take for example ‘Masterchef’. ‘Masterchef Australia’ and ‘Masterchef India’ are beyond comparisons. And only a true ‘Masterchef’ fan knows that. The worst part is getting Akshay Kumar in the show.

Dear Indian makers,

Masterchef is a talent show; you don’t need to commercialize it, especially when it’s already so famous all over the world.
Yours sincerely,

Sensible (tortured) Indian television viewer.

And the reason behind getting Akshay Kumar is that he was a cook in Thailand sometime before. By the same logic, because I have learnt Classical dancing I should be judging some dance show.

All we Indians can think about is saas-bahu sagas. I am not against the very well known TV series ‘Balika Vadhu’ because to some extent the concept of child marriage is still prevalent in lot of Indian villages but daily soaps like ‘pavitra rishta’, ‘yeh rishta kya kehlata hai’ and ‘punar vivah’ (I feel shameful to even know the names of all these soaps) are not needed on the television. India is known for its culture, for its family values and what we are doing is spoiling our very own culture by showing those jealous females on television. Where bollywood is moving on to female centric movies, Indian television is still stuck on degrading feminism.

People have forgotten the true meaning of the term ‘entertainment’. Entertainment is what we get when thrill runs through our blood while watching Dexter, entertainment is when we girls fall in love with Barney Stinson and don’t believe that he is a gay in real life (no offense). Entertainment is when Rachel makes every guy smile. I am not advertising American shows but rather I am criticizing the well-known Indian soap operas. Even now when I am writing this article my mom is sitting besides hooked to the tv and watching Hitler didi and at the same time telling my 14 year old brother that ‘ aaj kal k bete aise hi nalayak hote hai’.

Now you know how much these operas are effecting our minds and at the same effecting the minds of young children.

Well let’s not end my first article on a serious note, so like barney always says I will strive to make my presence here Legend---(wait for it)---dary…LEGENDARY!!!

PS: Microsoft word doesn’t have any word as bollywood but it very well has Hollywood. SHAME!!! UTTER SHAME!!!